Zhao Qingfeng cast a disdainful look at Lin Yang.
"It's just money! That's the one thing I've got plenty of. Name your price—how much more do you want?"
Without batting an eye, Lin Yang said, "Five thousand!"
That's right, Lin Yang was taking advantage of the situation.
He couldn't be blamed for it, though—who told Zhao Qingfeng to walk right into the trap?
"I'll give you ten thousand!" Zhao Qingfeng sneered.
Huh?
A pleasant surprise! Lin Yang's heart skipped a beat.
Suppressing his excitement, Lin Yang said, "I meant per hour!"
"Cut the crap, take off the protective gear!"
"Transfer the money first!" Lin Yang said with a beaming smile.
"Wait for it!"
Zhao Qingfeng picked up his phone from the floor.
Lin Yang briskly opened his payment QR code.
Without a second thought, Zhao Qingfeng scanned the code.
Ding!
Twenty thousand yuan received.
The smile in Lin Yang's eyes grew even wider.
To be honest, the club didn't actually offer a sparring service without protective gear.
Clearly, this was all Lin Yang's own doing.
Lin Yang knew Zhao Qingfeng couldn't stand him, and he knew Zhao Qingfeng wanted to vent.
At the same time, he wanted to make money.
So, he deliberately dangled this bait.
And sure enough, Zhao Qingfeng took the hook.
As for removing his protective gear, Lin Yang wasn't worried at all.
After taking those few punches from Zhao Qingfeng earlier, Lin Yang realized that the guy in front of him was a complete pushover.
Even without gear, Zhao Qingfeng couldn't possibly hurt him.
It was precisely because of this confidence that Lin Yang made the suggestion.
The moment the protective gear was removed, Zhao Qingfeng impatiently threw a punch straight at Lin Yang's stomach.
Ah, it really didn't hurt!
But Lin Yang certainly didn't want to disappoint Zhao Qingfeng.
If Zhao Qingfeng got disappointed, how else could he make money off him?
The instant Zhao Qingfeng's fist hit his stomach, Lin Yang let out a miserable scream and dropped to his knees in agony.
Seeing this, Zhao Qingfeng felt an instant rush of sheer, ecstatic pleasure—he felt like he was on top of the world.
Lin Yang feigned difficulty as he struggled back to his feet.
Hardly had he steadied himself when Zhao Qingfeng's fist struck his stomach once again.
Lin Yang re-enacted the exact same scene as before.
He played along convincingly, screaming, doubling over, and dropping to his knees!
After playing along with Zhao Qingfeng's act some seven or eight times, Zhao Qingfeng was too exhausted to throw another punch.
Excited and panting heavily, he lay flat on the boxing ring.
Though exhausted, Zhao Qingfeng felt wonderful—no, it was absolute bliss!
He felt that the money he spent today was worth every single penny.
"Lin Yang, did Fu Hongli really give you one hundred thousand to be her boyfriend?" Zhao Qingfeng suddenly asked.
"No way, she was obviously just doing that to provoke you. The truth is, she only gave me twenty thousand!"
Though Lin Yang didn't think much of Zhao Qingfeng, the kid was currently his sugar daddy.
Therefore, Lin Yang didn't want to provoke him further.
"Damn it, I shouldn't have been showing off back then," Zhao Qingfeng said, feeling depressed.
He genuinely envied Lin Yang. It wasn't even about the twenty thousand yuan Fu Hongli gave Lin Yang every month, but rather the fact that Lin Yang had somehow become Fu Hongli's boyfriend.
Pfft.
Lin Yang was amused by the remark.
"What the hell are you laughing at?" Zhao Qingfeng glared at Lin Yang unhappily.
Lin Yang chuckled. "I thought you really didn't like her."
"Damn it, I dream of making her my girlfriend every single night! I fucking thought she was just testing me with money, but who would've thought she was actually looking for a real boyfriend? What does she even see in him? If she really wanted a boyfriend, how many guys at Jiang University would be willing to grovel at her feet?"
Lin Yang felt like laughing again.
But to avoid provoking Zhao Qingfeng, he held it in.
"I think she might have some kind of complex, or maybe she doesn't realize how pretty she is, so she's trying to throw money at finding a boyfriend!" Lin Yang talked nonsense off the top of his head.
Of course, Lin Yang couldn't possibly tell Zhao Qingfeng the real truth about why Fu Hongli was looking for a boyfriend.
"I'll give you thirty thousand yuan, break up with Fu Hongli!" Zhao Qingfeng suddenly sat up and said with utmost seriousness.
Lin Yang looked at him with a beaming smile and retorted, "Zhao Qingfeng, do you think I'm an idiot?"
Zhao Qingfeng instantly deflated, acting like a punctured ball.
That's right—who would break up with Fu Hongli just for money?
Unless they were an idiot.
And Lin Yang clearly wasn't an idiot.
Thinking of this, Zhao Qingfeng felt angry, depressed, and deeply annoyed all at once.
"Again!"
Though slightly speechless, Lin Yang obediently got back to his feet.
After taking another dozen punches, Zhao Qingfeng was completely out of energy.
He lay on the ring for a while, took off his boxing gloves, and stormed off without even looking back.
Lin Yang rolled off the boxing ring.
Just as he was heading off to change his clothes, Ruan Mi walked over from somewhere.
Handing Lin Yang a bottle of water, she smiled seductively and said, "You little rascal, you really know how to make money!"
Lin Yang smiled.
"It's all thanks to Sister Mi giving me the opportunity!"
"Save the flattery. You just made twenty thousand and six hundred yuan out of nowhere—don't you think you should treat me?"
"Next time, definitely next time!" Lin Yang chuckled.
"Hmph, always 'next time'. What, do you really want to avoid having a meal with me that badly?" Ruan Mi wore a displeased expression.
Lin Yang smiled helplessly. "Sister Mi, I really don't have the time. I have to go give someone a piano lesson later!"
Lin Yang had been learning the piano since he was four years old.
Back then, his family was quite well-off, and his mother, wanting him to learn a musical instrument, bought a piano and hired a teacher.
In the beginning, learning was agonizing for Lin Yang—no, agony didn't even cover it; it felt utterly hopeless.
At the time, he would practice his sheet music while crying.
Perhaps blessed with decent talent, Lin Yang passed the Grade 10 piano examination by the age of ten.
He just never expected that a hobby cultivated since childhood would one day become a way for him to make a living.
What a fickle twist of fate.
"Fine, I won't tease you anymore. I know you're busy. How about I treat you to a late-night snack tonight, then?" Ruan Mi asked with a radiant smile.
The way she smiled was truly captivating, resembling a blooming, vibrant rose.
Especially those watery eyes, which were filled with an indescribable, ambiguous allure.
"We'll see. If I have enough time, Sister Mi, I'll call you, okay?"
Having gotten the answer she wanted, Ruan Mi smiled even more brightly.
"Alright then, Sister I'll be waiting for your call!"
Lin Yang nodded and turned toward the locker room.
Since there was still plenty of time before his piano lesson, Lin Yang took his time taking a shower.
During a break in his rest, he started paying off his debts.
The one hundred thousand yuan from Fu Hongli today, plus the twenty thousand he scammed out of Zhao Qingfeng, came to a total of one hundred and twenty thousand.
Lin Yang transferred the money out in batches.
When paying people back, he liked to spread the wealth evenly.
However, Lin Yang didn't use all the money to pay off debts; he kept five thousand yuan for himself.
There was no helping it—ever since their family went bankrupt, his mother had been so frightened by debt collectors that she developed a psychological illness, and now her medication alone cost over three thousand yuan every month.
Besides, his salary wasn't due yet, so keeping this five thousand yuan would help him tide over any emergencies.
Truth be told, Ruan Mi really was a living bodhisattva—he needed to treat this great benefactor of his with the utmost care.
After taking care of everything, Lin Yang finally changed his clothes.
Stepping out of the locker room, Lin Yang said goodbye to Ruan Mi and quickly took off.
Watching Lin Yang leave, Ruan Mi's gaze instantly turned somewhat dejected.
"Sister Mi, why haven't you confessed to Lin Yang yet? If you don't confess soon, I'm going to make my move!"
A teasing voice sounded right by Ruan Mi's ear.
The speaker was a young girl named Xiao Ling who worked at the club's front desk.
Ruan Mi's pretty face flushed, and she glared at Xiao Ling in embarrassment and annoyance.
"Keep talking nonsense and I'll dock your pay!"
"Sister Mi, I'm not talking nonsense at all. The way you look at Lin Yang practically melts!" Xiao Ling said with a cheeky grin.
"Get back to work."
Dropping those words, Ruan Mi hurried toward her office with her heart pounding wildly.